West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-03-11
ANMETER ExcoRIATED.

who resist Mr.. Camden's election.
Mr.. VanMeter was in Washington
for long time asking that his son
be appointed to Federal office. Mr..
VanMeter's letter went the rounds
OF the Camden organs. We con
dense from the last Hampshire Re
rie,r the following criticism OF Mr..
VanMeter's change of front. 1t was
written for that p sper by sterling
Democrat in ROmney.
While caucus h9s often heen re-
sorted to as a means OF producing
harmony il was never deemed essen
tial to party organization much less
was it considered fundamental
principle. The principles of party
are one thing, the machinery or
methods adopted 10 select men to
give effect to those principles, is an
entirely different thing. The meth
OILS should always be subordinated
to principles. Otherwise principles
~ be sacrificed to mere form; the
stance will be destroyed to pre-
erye the shadow and the machinery
of party will be used to defeat its
principles. This has been the re-
suit in many instances and has prob
ably done more than any other one
thing to corrupt our party politics.
It has led 10 bOSs-rule. An ambl-
tious man, possessing little Qualitiea-
tiOns of the statesman, by the use
CT money and adroit means, (unfor-
tunately now so well understood, by
a certain class of politicians. in ma
nipulating conventions, succeeds in
nominating a majority of Legisla-
ture. Then, all the 6ther members,
though OF equal, if not superior in-
tellect and character, must support
,he nominee. No matter how the
majority has been attained, nO mat
ter though the nominee disregards
the uloSt important principles of the
party; no matter how unfaithful he
has beru To the interests of the peo-
ple,-every individual must vote for
, him. \ Legislator takes an oath
that, electing a Senator, he will act
honestly and faithfully. This
oath must be disregarded and the
Legislator must vote for man
who he believes is unsafe; must vote
for man who, in his judgment and
who in the judgment of his constitu-
ents, ought not to be elected; must
vote for man who he believes had
obtained majority Of the caucus by
improper means. In other words
the Legislator must sink bis con-
science, give mp his Judgment, be-
tray his constituents, violate his
oath. because forsOOth one candidate
for the Senate, hy means of his
money. has procured the nomination
of what is called a caucus. This
proposition will never succeed before
the people. This is the effect of the
position taken nv Mr. Vanmeter
He says;
IL il question OF subOrdination to
the will of a majority of the Democratic
members i'm a Legislature.
According to sir. Vaumeter's con
eeption, the obligation of an oath is
10 be determined, not by the indi-
vidual, but Nv a majority OF eau
Gus. Can there be more democrat
izingdoctrine: By means of such doc
trine Cameron was boss in Pennsyl-
wanna and ruled like the Gar of
Russia. Ii was this doctrine that
Malone adopted i'm Virginia. BY
this doctrine the millionaire lord
AMI master Of West Virginia, Mr..
Camden. will become our boss and
party principles sacrificed To him.
As a citizen | will never consent to
IL; my manhood rebels snd my CON
science cries ont against IL. AS
Archie Campbell said,-"I carry
NV sovereignty under my hat
When cannot DO this, / cease to be
a man. cease To- he z Democrat.
] cease to respect myself, and ] for
felt the respect OF my neighhOrs. 1t
is neither sound doctrine, sound
morals, nor sound Democracy. It's
not a principle of the party, and the
day is not distant when the word
caucus will be hy-word and 4 re
proach.